I am a rep payee for my son, age 27, who was recently granted a fully favorable decision for disability by SS. His SSDI monthly payments are $710 which is just above the SSI limit for the state (CT) so he isn’t eligible for SSI. Last month, since he wasn’t receiving SSI, he received a lump sum check for retroactive SSI (about $15,000) and a check for SSDI back pay of about $4,000.
He is receiving SNAP and is on Medicaid as well as Medicare. The DSS told me that the income from SS would cause him to be ineligible for the state benefits unless I spend the money until he has below $1600. I’m not clear as to how long I have to do this and getting hold of a live person at DSS is very difficult.
I had told DSS that I wanted to use some of the lump sum to prepay rent since we can’t find an apartment he can afford on his SSDI and there’s a long waiting list for housing assistance. They told me we couldn’t use the money for this, but could use it to buy things like a TV or car or furniture for the apartment he doesn’t have (currently lives with parents). He doesn’t have a driver’s license, and probably shouldn’t drive, so the car isn’t an option I’m considering. He did buy a laptop and I suppose we could buy a TV, dressers, sofa and other furniture and store it until he gets an apartment, but this whole idea of spending to get his asset down confuses me. Aren’t these items “assets” or resources and wouldn’t that disqualify him for benefits? Definitions I’ve seen of “resources” seem to distinguish between “personal property” and “household goods and personal belonging”. I’m not clear on what falls into each category.
Another point of confusion is this. When they say I can’t use the money to prepay rent does that mean that if I did I would have to pay it back to SS or does it mean that he would lose eligibility for some of his benefits or incur some other penalty? Could I use the SSDI portion ($4,000) for prepaid rent?
Since he isn’t getting SSI I’m not concerned with that, but I am concerned about him possibly losing SNAP, Medicaid or QMB.
Please help clear up my confusion. DSS is very difficult to get live answers to questions and I get answers that contradict DSS from the federal SS office and when I point this out to them they refer me to the local SS office which then refers me to DSS.
This forum is fantastic and I appreciate any help you can provide.

